Meth ingredient sales triple in St. Louis County after ban

CLAYTON — Now that some eastern Missouri towns and counties require prescriptions to purchase pseudoephedrine, meth makers are increasingly showing up to buy pills in St. Louis County, where no such ban exists.

KTVI-TV reported that sales of cold and allergy medicines containing the key methamphetamine ingredient have tripled at some St. Louis County stores in recent months as towns and counties are increasingly cracking down in an effort to stop meth.

Franklin County narcotics officer Jason Grellner said in some cases, meth makers are driving busloads of people to St. Louis County to pill shop. He is proposing a statewide prescription law.

But some said a statewide ban would go too far and penalize law-abiding citizens because of the actions of a few.